John Day is a prominent lawyer, real estate developer, and investor who has left an indelible mark on the growth and character of Edmonton and Jasper. Through his diverse portfolio of projects, he has revitalized urban districts, upgraded infrastructure, and significantly boosted the region’s investment appeal. By chairing various boards, he has championed educational institutions, secured funding for critical medical research, and attracted billions in investment to Alberta’s economy, as reported by edmontonski.com.
From Law Practice to Major Investment Projects
John R. Day was born in Sheffield, England, on July 14, 1950. His father, Jack, was completing postgraduate training in obstetrics at the time and soon returned to his hometown of Edmonton with his wife, two daughters, and young son. In the 1960s, Jack and a group of fellow doctors acquired the Lobstick Hotel in Jasper and founded Mountain Park Lodges, which would eventually become the town’s leading hospitality company.
John eventually succeeded Jean Forest as chair of the company’s board. He quickly drove the enterprise forward, acquiring several landmark Jasper hotels, including:
- Marmot Lodge
- Chateau Jasper
- Pocahontas Cabins
- Pyramid Lake Lodge
Later, John partnered with other Jasper hotel owners to acquire stakes in the Marmot Basin ski resort and the Jasper Tramway. It is no exaggeration to say that Jasper shares a special bond with Edmonton, and much of that connection is due to the efforts of Edmontonians like John Day, his father, and their partners.
Day often describes himself as having been an unassuming child, showing no early signs that he would one day become a high-powered lawyer, businessman, and developer. He earned a bachelor’s degree in political science in 1971 and a law degree in 1974 from the University of Alberta. He began his career at a law firm that later became part of DLA Piper before moving to the firm now known as Dentons.
Even while practicing law, Day made significant contributions to public life, chairing several committees as a member of both the Edmonton Economic Development Corporation and the Edmonton Airports Authority.
Urban Revitalization and Real Estate Development
While practicing law, John felt the itch to try his hand at business. Having managed commercial real estate transactions for clients, he decided to take the plunge himself, starting with smaller ventures. From there, his business career took off.
In the late 1990s, John and a partner acquired and demolished the Cecil Hotel in downtown Edmonton. They envisioned a new commercial building that would reflect the history of Jasper Avenue and the old Birks building across the street. This reconstruction played a pivotal role in the rebirth of 104 Street, turning it into a pedestrian-friendly zone with shops and an open-air market. The revitalized street became a downtown hotspot, sparking interest from other developers in building high-rise residential towers.
Day executed a similar restoration of the Garneau Theatre, which was designated a municipal historic resource in 2009. Other notable restoration projects followed, including the old HUB Cigar Building on Whyte Avenue and the century-old structure further down the street known as the “Uncle Albert’s building,” which had been gutted by a fire in 2003. However, John Day is perhaps best known for his landmark redevelopment of the former Kelly-Ramsey Building in downtown Edmonton. Reopening in 2009 as the 25-story Enbridge Centre, it became the first new office tower in the city’s financial district in nearly three decades. As a nod to the past, parts of the original brickwork were meticulously dismantled, cleaned, and reassembled to form the four-story facade of the new tower.
Day’s projects have been frequently recognized by the Edmonton Urban Design Awards. In 2010, he was named one of Alberta’s 50 most influential people. That same year, John was appointed chair of the MacEwan University Board of Governors. Under his leadership, the board made the bold decision to sell the university’s southern and western campuses as part of a master plan to create a unified downtown campus. The board also supported John’s ambitious vision for a new arts complex. Some members argued for a less expensive three-story design, but John, ever the visionary, insisted on a five-story building. He convinced them that the additional cost was a fraction of what it would cost to build a new facility from scratch in the future.
Contributions to Education, Medicine, and Alberta’s Economy
In 2018, John became the founding chair of Edmonton Global, a coalition of 15 municipalities in the metro region formed to foster regional economic development. Given the diverse makeup of the coalition, maintaining unity required all of Day’s board management skills. Soon, however, they began seeing tangible results, such as the launch of the Alberta Hydrogen Initiative and the establishment of the Polykar manufacturing facility.
John served two terms as chair of the Royal Alexandra Hospital Foundation and co-chaired the fundraising campaign for the Edmonton Men’s Health Initiative. That campaign established the C.J. Woods Centre, an international leader in prostate cancer research and treatment.
In memory of his late wife, Cecilia, he established two student endowment funds at the University of Alberta Faculty of Law, as well as a separate endowment to support education and research in cervical cancer treatment.
Day also chaired the Organizing Committee that hosted the World Triathlon Championship Finals in Edmonton in 2021. Once again, the task required a skilled leader capable of managing an international sporting event amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.
Following the 2024 wildfire in Jasper, which destroyed countless homes and businesses, John—having been a longtime chair of Mountain Park Lodges and Marmot Basin—was among those the town immediately turned to for leadership. In his interviews, he speaks with passion about the numerous grassroots initiatives that emerged to tackle the aftermath, many of which he contributed to significantly. Day joined a new group of business leaders, the Jasper Owners Committee, which engaged consultants to assess the situation and work with various levels of government to ensure Jasper residents and business owners received the help they needed.
John is a father of three and is married to Margaret Bateman. He continues to lead his real estate development business today. His story demonstrates how a blend of legal expertise, entrepreneurial spirit, and active civic participation can shape the development of cities and regions. His real estate projects, business initiatives, and support for education and healthcare have become woven into the broader fabric of Edmonton and Jasper, defining their modern landscape and creating new opportunities for the future.